Thompson addresses the danger of nationalism at German gathering: Stop calling it ‘Christian’

The season of Easter began with a great display of resurrection power when more than 100,000 people poured into Hannover, Germany for the 39th Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag (German Protestant Church Day).

The gathering, held April 30-May 4, featured more than 1,500 events, including panel discussions where leading Reformed voices captured the Kirchentag theme of being “Courageous-Strong-Resolute” as they delved into pressing political, social, and environmental issues.  

Among those voices was the United Church of Christ’s General Minister and President, the Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson.

Thompson, whose presence underscored the UCC’s long-standing partnership with the German Evangelical Church, shared her perspective on Christian nationalism in the panel discussion, “With God Against Democracy: What the Example of the USA Teaches Us in Germany.”

Joining Thompson on stage were Christian Wulff, former Federal President, Berlin; Tobias Bilz, Regional Bishop, Dresden; Arnd Henze, journalist and member of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Cologne; and Dr. Claudia Jetter, theologian and Americanist, Berlin.

Stop calling it ‘Christian’

Thompson began by saying to the packed convention room that it was time to start talking about Christian nationalism as “extremism.”

“We have to stop referring to it as Christian,” she said, explaining that the movement does not “rest in the tenets of the Christian faith.” Thompson then reminded the audience of Jesus’ second commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Thompson noted how the use of Christian symbolism in nationalism is problematic as it is leading many people to believe that what is being said and done is in the name of God.

“But let me just say this is not all Christians in the United States. There are still many who are leaning into the prophetic witness that is evident in scripture. We are seeing people speaking out against the treatment of immigrants and standing up for gender minorities. There are people advocating for human rights,” she said, garnering thundering applause from the audience.

Time to become ‘actively engaged’

With the U.S. Christian landscape being one that is not monolithic — there are conservative and progressive believers — Thompson shared how it was time for the country to define what “Christian” is.

She also stressed the need to “speak out around the misinformation and disinformation that is aligned with Christianity.”

“For too long we have ignored the untruths that are present around Christianity. It is not enough for us to ignore it and think it will go away,” said Thompson.

Facing untruths, she added, requires people to be “actively engaged.”

“It’s okay to name these ideologies what they are. They do not speak to the tenets of our faith. We must be able to say that they are lies,” said Thompson. “If we are not willing to do that, we become part of the problem.”

In the blurring of lines between Christianity and patriotism, Thompson sees an opportunity for congregations to step up awareness through education.

“Whether it is with our confirmation classes or in our communities, do the education that is necessary to speak to why this theology is not sound,” she said.

Not a new problem

As the nationalism conversation grows more urgent, Thompson reminded Kirchentag attendees that the weaponization of Christianity is not new. In the United States, there were Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation. Laws, Thompson pointed out, that were upheld by Christian theology.

And just like then, there is no room for fear now.

“We cannot be afraid at this particular time,” said Thompson. “We have to believe that the courage that we need is given to us by the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The 40th German Evangelical Kirchentag will be held in 2027 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

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